Of periods at rest this, perhaps, was one of the happiest, the Mayor and population co-operating in the full sense of the word
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and, again with regret, we left for La Fratta on November 6th. A week in this concentration area and then, on the 15th, we successfully crossed the Lazarro and by night were established on the line of the Bolzanino River. During the night of the 16-17th, a patrol crossed the River Cosina but was fired upon and forced to withdraw and the remainder of the day was quiet except for an unfortunate incident when our own dive-bombers made an attack upon B and C Coys. A Corps attack was in progress on the 22nd in an effort to cross the Cosina --a terrific amount of resistance was encountered in our sector and we did not establish bridgehead. However, to our right, the 5th Foresters had been successful and C Coy passed through this unit and occupied Corla. 2nd Hampshires moved through our lines next morning and were able to advance four miles and line the bank of the River Lamone immediately facing Faenza. C Coy moved to substantiate this progress and took up a position on a crossroads. At this stage vague rumours were in the air, mostly referring to 'a long rest' --nevertheless, what finally happened left most of us gasping for breath. We moved in transport to the outskirts of Forli and from there a sudden move to Rome and, before we could look round, we were in planes droning above the Italian countryside and bound for Greece.
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Certain phases of the operations in Greece have already been covered and most of you still have vivid memories of the time spent there, particularly after the fighting had finished. Such names as Patras, Aiyion, Pireaus and Phaleron will all bring back a flood of thoughts, as will the 'All Ranks Dance' at Athens. As much as we desired to stay, on April 13th 1945 we boarded the MV Villa De Oran and sailed to Taranto, Italy. The camp here was typical: tents, Nissen huts for the cooks, a hot dry wind and plenty of dust. A normal programme was put into operation.
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At the end of the month our kit was packed again and we found ourselves having another sea journey, this time to Ancona and from there by train to Cesena where trucks awaited us and whirled us to the Bertinola area.
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May the 8th….VE Day, and in the words of one officer :'It is better that a curtain be drawn over the events that occurred that night!' The next day was a general holiday and a Grand Fete was held, mortar flares lit the sky and there was a scramble for the small parachutes as souvenirs. A huge bonfire was lit, the wine casks opened and a thoroughly good time had by everyone.
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The 11th saw us en-route to Austria staging at Padua and Caporetta arriving finally at Unzmarkt, Austria. Bleiburg was our next destination where patrol work arid other duties were carried out on the Yugoslav border. The Battalion became very horse-minded, but these creatures had to be left behind when we moved to Bruckle. Much good work was put in in this area collecting POWs, stray horses and enemy equipment. The first halt of July was spent, still at Bruckle, doing normal duties, plentifully interspersed with football, cricket and Battalion Race Meetings. During this period, July 15th to be exact, the Non-Fraternisation ban was lifted.
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